1997 Mercedes Sl 500 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

73.3%

Latest Pass Rate

1,409

Total Tests (All Years)

97,886 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Mercedes Sl 500 as it ages.

12 yrs73.8%

→ ↑1.7%

13 yrs75.5%

→ ↑2.8%

14 yrs78.3%

→ ↓0.2%

15 yrs78.1%

→ ↓10.2%

16 yrs67.9%

→ ↑10.0%

17 yrs77.9%

→ ↓2.6%

18 yrs75.3%

→ ↑5.9%

19 yrs81.2%

→ ↓16.3%

20 yrs64.9%

→ ↑16.1%

21 yrs81.0%

→ ↓6.6%

22 yrs74.4%

→ ↓1.1%

23 yrs73.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	73.8%	172
13 yrs	75.5%	159
14 yrs	78.3%	152
15 yrs	78.1%	151
16 yrs	67.9%	159
17 yrs	77.9%	149
18 yrs	75.3%	150
19 yrs	81.2%	149
20 yrs	64.9%	57
21 yrs	81.0%	42
22 yrs	74.4%	39
23 yrs	73.3%	30

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes Sl 500 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	73.3%	30
2019 (22 yrs)	74.4%	39
2018 (21 yrs)	81%	42
2017 (20 yrs)	64.9%	57
2016 (19 yrs)	81.2%	149
2015 (18 yrs)	75.3%	150
2014 (17 yrs)	77.9%	149
2013 (16 yrs)	67.9%	159
2012 (15 yrs)	78.1%	151
2011 (14 yrs)	78.3%	152
2010 (13 yrs)	75.5%	159
2009 (12 yrs)	73.8%	172

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

73.8%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 172Avg Mileage 68,636Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.4%

2010

75.5%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 159Avg Mileage 77,060Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.6%

2011

78.3%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 152Avg Mileage 73,723Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.2%

2012

78.1%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 151Avg Mileage 76,166Top Failure Brakes — 8.6%

2013

67.9%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 159Avg Mileage 79,279Top Failure Brakes — 25.2%

2014

77.9%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 149Avg Mileage 78,923Top Failure Brakes — 20.1%

2015

75.3%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 150Avg Mileage 81,309Top Failure Brakes — 30.0%

2016

81.2%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 149Avg Mileage 84,597Top Failure Brakes — 16.8%

2017High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 57Avg Mileage 87,905Top Failure Brakes — 35.1%

2018

81.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 42Avg Mileage 91,022Top Failure Brakes — 28.6%

2019

74.4%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 39Avg Mileage 97,794Top Failure Brakes — 43.6%

2020

73.3%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 30Avg Mileage 97,886Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 26.7%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes Sl 500 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	73.8%	172	68,636	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.4%
2010	13	75.5%	159	77,060	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.6%
2011	14	78.3%	152	73,723	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.2%
2012	15	78.1%	151	76,166	Brakes — 8.6%
2013	16	67.9%	159	79,279	Brakes — 25.2%
2014	17	77.9%	149	78,923	Brakes — 20.1%
2015	18	75.3%	150	81,309	Brakes — 30.0%
2016	19	81.2%	149	84,597	Brakes — 16.8%
2017	20	64.9%	57	87,905	Brakes — 35.1%
2018	21	81.0%	42	91,022	Brakes — 28.6%
2019	22	74.4%	39	97,794	Brakes — 43.6%
2020	23	73.3%	30	97,886	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 26.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes Sl 500, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

22.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

21.4%

↑ Increases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

15.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

14.0%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

13.3%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	9.9% (12 yrs)	20.0% (23 yrs)	+10.1%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	6.4% (12 yrs)	13.3% (23 yrs)	+6.9%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes Sl 500 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes Sl 500 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 1,409 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.